The Kerala high court on May 5 refused to stay the release of the controversial The Kerala Story and said, its trailer did not contain anything offensive to any particular community as a whole. A bench of Justices N. Nagaresh and Sophy Thomas noted the submission made by the producers that they did not intend to retain an “offending teaser” which contained a declaration that “32,000 women” from Kerala were converted to Islam, and joined a terrorist organisation.
Justice Nagaresh, who dictated the order, said, “We find that the trailer does not contain anything offensive to any particular community as a whole.” The court observed that the Central Board of Film Certification had examined the film and found it suitable for public exhibition. It also noted that the producers had published a disclaimer along with the film, which specifically said that the film was a fictionalised and dramatised version of events.
The petitions contended that the film “falsely portrayed” facts, which had resulted in “insulting” the people of Kerala, and sought a stay on the film’s release.